Gauge and switch diaphragm protector

ABSTRACT

A gauge and switch diaphragm protector comprising an expansion chamber mountable in a fluid conduit between the pressure source and pump switch, having sand diverting baffles mounted therein, adapted to divert sand in the fluid to the outer wall of the chamber without diminishing the pressure of the fluid.

United States Patent [191 Hughes Dec. 31, 1974 GAUGE AND SWITCH DIAPHRAGM PROTECTOR [76] Inventor: George W. Hughes, 2601 Mills,

Houston, Tex. 77026 [22] Filed: Oct. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 408,160

[52] US. Cl 200/83 R, ZOO/61.2 S, 200/302,

210/90 [51] Int. Cl. H01h 35/34 [58] Field of Search 200/81 R, 81.9 R, 83 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,598,818 6/1952 Muirhead 210/446 2,775,205 12/1956 Gunther 200/85 R 3,016,147 1/1962 Cobb 210/446 3,027,010 3/ 1962 Dreisbach 210/446 3,114,320 12/1963 Hughes 200/83 R 3,291,307 12/1966 Rosaen 210/90 Primary Examiner-G. Z. Rubinson Assistant Examiner-Gerald P. Tolin 5 7] ABSTRACT A gauge and switch diaphragm protector comprising an expansion chamber mountable in a fluid conduit between the pressure source and pump switch, having sand diverting baffles mounted therein, adapted to divert sand in the fluid to the outer wall of the chamber without diminishing the pressure of the fluid.

4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 1 GAUGE AND SWITCH DIAPHRAGM PROTECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is an improvement over the invention of applicant upon which US. Pat. No. 3,114,320 has been issued.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A gauge and switch diaphragm protector having an expansion chamber mountable in the flow line between the pressure tank and switch, in which baffles are mounted to deflect the sand in the fluid to the outer wall of the expansion chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The FIGURE is an elevational view, showing the expansion chamber in cross section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, the numeral designates a pump, such as may be commonly found on domestic water wells, as 11, which is provided with a flow line 12 from the pump to the pressure tank 13, which has the outlet line 12' and control valve 13'. A lateral conduit as 14 provides connection to the expansion chamber 15 from the pressure line 12. An outlet 16, at the other end of the expansion chamber 15, provides a connection with the pump switch 17, in which the diaphragm 18 is mounted. A spring 19 maintains constant pressure on the diaphragm l8, urging the switch 21 into closed position through the stem 20, which is connected at one end to the diaphragm and the other end bears against the switch 21. Current flows through the lines 22, 23 to the motor 24 when the switch 21 is closed. Without the expansion chamber 15, sand, such as 26, will build up in the area 25 beneath the diaphraghm and will prevent the diaphragm from returning to its closed position and will hold the pump switch open, preventing the pump from being activated and the pressure tank from being refilled. As the fluid flows from the well to the pressure tank, it will similarly flow through the line 14 to the expansion chamber 15, and as the fluid expands in the chamber 15, sand, as 27, will be deposited on the bottom of the chamber and after the pump has stopped and pressure drops in the tank, the flow of fluid back through the line 14 will carry this sand back into the well.

The diaphragm 18 is of a flexible material and is bolted in the switch housing by means of the bolts 35, 36 which extend through the lower member 33 and the upper member 34, and a passageway 37 for the stem 20, extends through the upper member 34.

Mounted in the chamber 15 is the baffle 38, preferably midway between the bottom wall 32 and upper wall 31, said baffle consisting of a disc-like member 38 mounted at its outer periphery to the inside wall of the chamber 15, and having an axial passageway therethrough. The upper disc 40, of lesser diameter than the said disc 38, is mounted on the disc 38 by means of the legs 39, 39 which space the discs apart.

When the pump is in operation, the switch is in closed position. The pressure from the tank 13 gradually building up after the pump starts pumping, and when the predetermined pressure is reached in the tank 13, and chamber 15, the spring 19 will be overcome and the switch opened, and the motor operating the pump will stop. As fluid flows into the expansion chamber, it will expand, moving the sand therein to the outside of the chamber, and as the fluid strikes the baffles 38, 40, any remaining sand will be diverted outwardly to settle on the bottom of the tank, through gravity, preventing a building up of a supply of sand under the diaphragm 18.

It is obvious that any perforated disc may be employed as a baffle, or that more than one may be employed, within the expansion chamber, if desired.

While the attached drawings illustrate a diaphragm switch for a pump motor, it is contemplated that the same situation exists in many other types of gauges and that the herein described device may be applied to such gauges to prevent malfunction due to a collection of sand under the diaphragm, or other pressure operable member.

What I claim is:

1. In a means for diverting sand in a fluid conduit to prevent an accumulation beneath the diaphragm of an electrical switch in connection therewith, a diaphragm operated switch mechanism, a pressure line leading from a source of pressure to said mechanism for the conduct of fluid containing sand, an expansion chamber in said line between said source of pressure and said diaphragm operated mechanism, baffle means in said chamber across the flow line of fluid therethrough diverting sand in said fluid to the outside walls of said chamber.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said baffles are disc-like members mounted in the expansion cham ber.

3. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said baffles are spaced discs, one of said discs being of greater diameter than the other, and said disc of greater diameter being mounted on the inside wall of said chamber and the lesser diameter disc being spaced from the other disc and mounted thereon.

4. The device defined in claim 11 wherein said baffles are spaced discs having fluid passageways therebe- 

1. In a means for diverting sand in a fluid conduit to prevent an accumulation beneath the diaphragm of an electrical switch in connection therewith, a diaphragm operated switch mechanism, a pressure line leading from a source of pressure to said mechanism for the conduct of fluid containing sand, an expansion chamber in said line between said source of pressure and said diaphragm operated mechanism, baffle means in said chamber across the flow line of fluid therethrough diverting sand in said fluid to the outside walls of said chamber.
 2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said baffles are disc-like members mounted in the expansion chamber.
 3. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said baffles are spaced discs, one of said discs being of greater diameter than the other, and said disc of greater diameter being mounted on the inside wall of said chamber and the lesser diameter disc being spaced from the other disc and mounted thereon.
 4. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said baffles are spaced discs having fluid passageways therebetween. 